Since i did my brew outside last night, i was thinking maybe bugs could get in the wort so i put a lid on it covering most of it. when i cooked it inside, I never covered it. should I cover or not? will that effect the wort much?

Boiling with a lid on can cause some issues. There are sulpher compounds that are produced in the wort during the boil. With an uncovered pot, these farty-smelling things just boil off and evaoprate. If the pot is covered, those things can remain in the beer and you could taste them in the final product.

I wouldn't really worry about it, but something to remember.

As for bugs.... if they get in there, they will promptly die and be sterilized. They will not cause anything bad to happen to your beer (though it might be unsightly to see a fly or bee floating in the carboy.)

I leave my thermometer clipped to the side of the kettle the entire time, from adding water at the start til I am about to rack to the primary. This way I can adjust the water for the grains and later I don't have to worry about sanitizing it before cooling. I write down everything, including temps...I'm anal that way.